Curse

w00t! · Apr 02, 2006, 10:01 PM // 22:01

I play a Ranger/Mesmer and find that I use a 15% stance bow much more often than my 15^50 bow. As a Mesmer I'm ALWAYS in one stance or another, be it physical resistance, whirling defense, or whatnot.

So, given this fact, a 15% stance bow is more likely to trigger the plus 15% than the 15^50 bow. But prices for a 15^50 bow is usually 5 times or more than an equivalent stance bow.

What am I missing here? Is it because there are lots of Ranger / Whatever's out there that are rarely in a stance?

I searched for a similar topic but all I found were WTS's and WTB's. Thanks.

stickyballs · Apr 02, 2006, 10:13 PM // 22:13

15^50 is the MOST popular mod. The only thing more desirable is unconditionals and VERY few have the pocketbook to afford that. Plus, not all rangers use stances... Over 50% health is something that people are a lot, if they are dying or under 50% health, chances are they are:

a) healing
b) running away

At below 50% they're probably not attacking...

EF2NYD · Apr 02, 2006, 10:16 PM // 22:16

I like 15^50 better because I usually run builds that don't require stances, except for some evasion stances where I shouldn't be attacking anyway. Preferably, I'd take stance swords, axes, and hammers since some warrior stances are more offensive.

Griev · Apr 02, 2006, 10:21 PM // 22:21

When it comes to melee weapons I prefer in stance. I always seem to be in stance.

Haggard · Apr 02, 2006, 10:21 PM // 22:21

As a horrendous noob, i virtually never use stances so over 50 is the best for me (or enchanted, when i'm ragemending)

EDIT: but then again when ragemending, i'll have constant battle rage so I guess stance equipment would rock for it as well XD

lyra_song · Apr 02, 2006, 10:22 PM // 22:22

Your typical ranger will only be using 1 stance while attacking, which is Tiger's Fury. The defensive stances are typically only thrown on when you need to troll/heal etc.

I use a Stance hammer with my thumper and people look at me like im crazy. -.-
"Whats your hammer?"
"Thorgall's Stone Smasher"
"Like theres so many ranger stances. LOL"
"Ya, Tiger's Fury...duh. -.-"

The 15^50 just seems much more friendly, but imo, getting into a 1 on 1 stalemate will result in the fight ending with the winner having very little health left. I prefer knowing that everytime i use tiger's fury, whoever im twacking or shooting with arrows will suddenly notice an increase in damage.

w00t! · Apr 02, 2006, 11:13 PM // 23:13

Maybe it's becaus I'm exclusively PvE, but I've always got room in my skill bar for one of the Mesmer resistances. Cost is negligable and duration is more than 30 seconds. So I'm always in a stance throughout the battle. I mostly depend on interrupts rather than pure damage output.

Not sure why I evolved this way, as I basically started with all the green bows and expected to use Graygore's bow throughout the game (my Monk has spent so much time in Sorrow's Furnace that she's building a house there). So I've always got both Graygore's bows ready to swap in.

All things considered, I can understand why 15^50 bows cost more, but 5 times as much! I have two perfect stance storms, 1 eternal, and 2 feathered, and all of them are worth less than a single 15^50 storm.

Now I can understand the value difference between enchants and the others (sorta, but given all the Ordres out there I'm not so sure any more), but I think that some of this must be groupthink rather than math.

SnoopJeDi · Apr 02, 2006, 11:59 PM // 23:59

I use flurry and a shortbow a lot, so on that build I have flurry up ALL the time. I just found a nice half moon with the stance mod on it too. It all depends on how you play, but most rangers seem to prefer to be in the rear sniping away with 100% health rather than getting a little dirty and stancing.

LifeInfusion · Apr 02, 2006, 11:59 PM // 23:59

If you can find a 15% >50 I would use over the 15 stanced. That isn't hard, considering collectors have 15>50 bows.

The reason why 15>50 is *generally* better for every class, is because stances can be broken and enchantments can be shattered. HP is more consistent if you are on a team, since you will be healed more often than not to within 50% of the max health. Also, you might want to not use stances for some reason, and 15>50 is more of an all-around kind of thing. And you can bring a 20<50 so when you are less than 50% HP you still do extra damage.

For hammers stanced MIGHT be better, but that is because you, more often than not, have some kind of stance for adrenaline gain.

Then again, if you have very low health due to superior runes, it might not be a good idea to bring 15>50 weapons.

Valerius · Apr 03, 2006, 01:07 AM // 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeInfusion

The reason why 15>50 is *generally* better for every class, is because stances can be broken and enchantments can be shattered. HP is more consistent if you are on a team, since you will be healed more often than not to within 50% of the max health. Also, you might want to not use stances for some reason, and 15>50 is more of an all-around kind of thing.

that's pretty much my reasoning... great explanation

<-- my beauties :

yesitsrob · Apr 03, 2006, 01:54 AM // 01:54

Hm, on my warrior I purchase the stance weapons - when I really want to do damage I will be in a stance (frenzy, tf) not always over 50 though.

Bows I find somewhat different, really depends what you are doing i guess - if you are being backed up by orders then obviously enchanted is the way to go for example.

Remember though, people don't pay for actual effectiveness - if they did sundering mods would cost about 5 gold for a perfect one

Cherno · Apr 03, 2006, 06:10 AM // 06:10

I hardly ever use stances on my ranger, regardless of its secondary class, so a stance bow would do me no good.

The only character that I consider using a stance weapon on is my warrior, but even then I stick to %^50 because of all the conditions on the weapons that is the most favorabe. Echants can be shattered, stances can be broken (not usually) or more likely end, while hexed is just...blah and who wants to keep under 50% consistantly?

The only other one that I rank second to %^50 is vs hexed. That is because you can be in more control of that. With the right build that can be easily sustainable. Problem is that most of the hexers are casters and I don't usually attack with my weapon anyway.

JiggyFly · Apr 03, 2006, 06:41 AM // 06:41

It's true alot of the times when you have a stance up you're fighting, but it's alos true that there are also alot of times you'll be fighting without stances. Thus, I choose the 15>50, hell call me noob but I even have a few 20<50 weapons for my Ranger and Warrior. Because sometimes in GvG,RA,TA you're off by yourself or your monk is down so you might be fighting while under 50% health.

Snowman · Apr 03, 2006, 08:53 AM // 08:53

Im not really a Pro Ranger or anything but I do notice how popular spike builds are in alot of PvP! I dont think they use stances much, and your pretty much spiking straight away.. dont want to have to think about activating a stance as well.

anyway, what baffles me more is the prices people pay for these things :O

Raxxman · Apr 03, 2006, 09:01 AM // 09:01

Playing a warrior I'm near constantly sprinting/flurrying/frenzying thus using my stance blade remains more useful.

lyra_song · Apr 03, 2006, 09:06 AM // 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

Im not really a Pro Ranger or anything but I do notice how popular spike builds are in alot of PvP! I dont think they use stances much, and your pretty much spiking straight away.. dont want to have to think about activating a stance as well.

anyway, what baffles me more is the prices people pay for these things :O

Enchanted bow would be better for ranger spike since you use OoV or OoP.

Thallandor · Apr 03, 2006, 10:50 AM // 10:50

I am not sure if the OP is refering to his Ranger/Mes in PvP or PvE. But if we are talking prices then i would be assuming we will be talking about PvE in general.

Looking at ranger builds in PvE simply, a ranger's place is often at the rear of the party next to the monks if hes not pulling, shooting arrows for spike or interupts or condition spammer, rarely taking damage ensuring the ranger to be in good health most of the time. Hence having a 15^50 bow is more flexible for rangers since the most popular class for rangers to empoly is Ra/Mo for trappers in UW, B/p in UW tombs or FoW other than the fact that for any weapons with 15^50 is usually more desirable and hence the price. Not all rangers use a stance at a frequency as they would prefer otherwise.

Former Ruling · Apr 03, 2006, 11:05 AM // 11:05

15^50 is going to cost more because it is seen as the "perfect" dmg mod.

its already been discussed its advantages in battle.